2013 Baseball Season Preview

Feb 05, 2013

Written by Sean Dahlin

BUENA VISTA, Va.—Entering the 2013 season, the Southern Virginia University baseball team is optimistic about the upcoming spring season and sets its sights on the ten-team USCAA Small College World Series, which will be located at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa.

"We're returning a core group of players from last year, and have added talented newcomers this season," said fourth-year Head Coach Logan Mann. "We plan to work together as a team and do the little things right."

"Each year, our plan and goal as a program is to reach postseason play and this season is no different," said Mann. "We expect to be in the thick of things in the World Series where anything can happen."

"This year's infield is comprised of experience and depth that should be a strength of our team," said Mann.

Up the middle, Southern Virginia is returning two-year starter and junior shortstop Stevenson, who led the Knights in batting average (.387) and hits (55) while ranking third in on-base-percentage (.430), home runs (3) and RBI (31).

Alongside Stevenson is sophomore middle infielder CJ Andrus (Federal Way, Wash.). Prior to serving a mission to Brazil, Andrus recorded a .263 batting average with 20 RBI as a member of the 2010 squad that finished 21-21 in Mann's first year as head coach.

Fourth-year starter Hintze, a 2011 USCAA Academic All-American member, will follow-up his most productive season as a Knight last year going .342 with 35 RBI and a .980 fielding percentage. After a one-year hiatus, Linn returns in 2013 looking to build off his 2011 campaign when he registered a .396 batting average, 25 RBI and a .462 on-base percentage along with a .992 fielding percentage.

Behind the dish, Price will hold down the catching position after hitting .311 and .324 the last two seasons respectively highlighted by obtaining a .990 fielding percentage in 2012. Cox and Hintze provide depth at the position as well.

Incoming redshirt freshman transfer Nicholas Lyons (Bryson City, N.C.) will find at-bats and time at both first and third base this year. Fellow-newcomers junior Giovanni Prato (West Valley City, Utah) and freshmen Avery Benesch (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Matthew Painter (Las Vegas, Nev.) will fight for playing time in the middle of the infield.

Outfield

"Our outfield corps has speed that we hope will lead to a good defensive season," said Mann.

According to Mann, Brown and Key have moved from the infield to working in the outfield fulltime.

In 2012, Brown finished second on the squad in on-base percentage (.445) and stolen bases (9) and third in batting average (.367). In his first season as a Knight, Key had a solid season recording a .371 batting average with 18 RBI and seven stolen bases.

While not pitching, Mantle—who's 18 stolen bases last year ranks third in single-season program history—will spend his time in the outfield, specifically left field. In addition, junior transfer Mark Wells (Nelson County, Va.) along with freshmen Tyler Clark (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Austen Hammond (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Jack Stanton (Columbia, Md.) will fight for time chasing down fly balls.

"This year's schedule is challenging with good balance that I feel will prepare us well for the tough competition we expect to face in Pennsylvania," said Mann.

The 2013 schedule has 38 contests in which Southern Virginia will face NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and USCAA opponents, including 17 of those games being against DIII institutions.

Baseball opens its season on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon against the Virginia University of Lynchburg in a home doubleheader at Parry McCluer High School.